“On the way we bumped into Hannah. She told us what he planned.’’
“What do you mean planned?’’ I ask, my voice shaky. I already know, I’ve always known deep down. I guess I just wanted to believe it was my imagination, that it never really happened and that really I just fell over and knocked my head on a brick or something.
“Hannah… She said he made a plan to get you alone drunk so he can take pictures of you nude and in compromising positions,’’ he grunts out, looking pissed. My hand closes over one of his, needing him to touch me and I needing to touch him. He looks up with a pained smile before looking back down the bed. “She wasn’t meant to be there. She said all she had to do was spike your drink and he’d do the rest, but she wanted to gloat. But when she turned up it wasn’t photos he was doing…’’
“He raped me didn’t he?’’ I cry out shaking. It’s then I feel the need to tear my skin off, not wanting his hands to be on me.
“Baby no,’’ he tells me, but I hardly hear him through my hysterical sobs. How could he do this? No one deserves this at all.
“Did he… did he?’’ I ask, not able to bring myself to repeat my earlier question as bile rises in my throat again.
“No baby. When I got there I thought he had, I nearly killed him. I wish I did. But after the nurses and doctors examined you they told us there were no signs of penetration. He didn’t touch you like that baby. I don’t know Davis’s side of the story and I don’t want to. It will make me want to kill him even more,’’ he tells me.
I breathe a sigh of relief, thankful he didn’t manage to get that far… wait, “Did you save me?’’ I ask surprised because he said he was going for his brother.
“Long story short babe, we got to Mason and found out from another chick that Davis had planned all this out to get you alone. It all clicked, so we raced back to the party where Denny had just woken up. That’s when a kid told us about seeing you with Davis. After seeing Hannah, I charged into the house. I pulled him off you, but I didn’t save you Harlow. He still managed to hurt you after I promised he wouldn’t,’’ he says, his eyes watering.
My Gram’s hand tightens around my hand and I turn my head to see tears falling freely down her face. I give her hand a gentle squeeze back, silently asking her if she’s okay.
“None of this is your fault Malik. It’s his. All we can do now is make sure that he’s put behind bars where he belongs,’’ I tell him, and then he looks at me with a guilty face. “What?’’
“About that…. I beat the crap out of him and he’ll be in hospital for a few weeks before he gets taken in.’’
“Good,’’ I blurt out, completely shocked I said that, even though he deserves everything he gets and much more.
He smiles gently at me and for the first time since I’ve woken up the frown above his eyes relax. The door opens startling us, causing Malik and I to look away from each other. A doctor in a long white lab coat walks in looking down at his clipboard. His glasses are slipping off his nose and when he looks up to see me awake, he pushes them back up his nose.
“Miss Evans,’’ he greets happily.
I give him a weak smile, feeling nervous as he stands at the bottom of the bed, his large frame shadowing over me.
“I’m sure your Grandma and boyfriend here have already filled you in, but I’d like to go through a few things with you. Am I okay to talk about this in front of them?’’
“Yes, it’s fine.’’
“Right, well, firstly I’d like to say you are free to go once you have your discharge papers. There is nothing long term medically wrong with you, but you will need to take it easy for a few days and keep your body hydrated. As for your notes, you came in suffering from a drug called Ketamine on the streets. It paralyses the muscle and causes disorientation. As you may be aware you suffered the majority of the side of effects of the drug, like hallucinations, memory loss, agitation, anxiety, and sickness.
“You have bruising to your inner thighs….’’
“I thought he didn’t…’’ I ask panicked shaking my head. My body starts to clam up and sweat as I begin to shake uncontrollably. Did Malik lie to me?
Malik takes a seat on the bed next to me, his strong arm going around me and I don’t hesitate to lean into him, tears streaming down my face soaking his shirt.
“No Harlow, I assure you there was no foul play sexually, we had a forensic rape test done while you were out,’’ he says softly to reassure me. “Like I said you endured bruising to your inner thighs, arms, back and legs. You have a cut on your neck that is six inches long, but didn’t need any stitches, the wound wasn’t deep.
“What I would like to talk to you about before you go home is about you talking to one of our counsellors here at the hospital. We can offer a different range of help. They offer a service called a court appointed advocate. What they do is help victims such as yourself with providing support while you give your statement or have to be in court. Is this something you would like to think about doing?’’
My mind whirls trying to process everything. I nod my head, thankful I’ll be able to talk to someone about it. I’m sure Malik, Gram’s or someone would listen about it, but it’s not the same and I’d never want to burden them with this. I guess I need someone to tell me how to remember what happened, or that it’s okay that I don’t remember.
“I’ll refer you to Mrs. Skelding who specialises in cases like yours. She isn’t in this week, so it may take up to two weeks to hear from her. In the meantime here is a number to an organisation that helps women who specialise in cases like yours,’’ he says handing over a leaflet.
Tears are still falling from my eyes as I try to come to terms with the fact I’m a victim of sexual assault and date rape. I’m thankful I wasn’t raped, but knowing it was mere seconds away from happening really scares the shit out of me. I honestly don’t know what I would do had it happened, just feeling the way I do with it not happening is killing me.
“Can I go home now?’’ I ask him with pleading eyes, wanting to get into the shower and turn it up to the hottest temperature I can handle.
“Let me just sign your discharge papers. A nurse will be in shortly to take your drip out. Just make sure to stay hydrated once you leave and get plenty of rest at home.’’
“Thank you,’’ I tell him, my eyes watering once again.
He nods his head at me, giving Gram’s and Malik one last look before turning to leave. Once he walks through the door everyone else walks back in, Mason hot on their heels.
“Hey,’’ I wave weakly feeling tired.
“Hey girl. Don’t ever scare us like that again,’’ Max and Mav say to me.
Myles looks uncomfortable as he walks over to the bed; my Gram’s moving her chair back to give him room. Once he gets close enough he pulls me into a tight hug, his hold making the air whoosh out of me. He doesn’t say anything as he squeezes the life out of me; words aren’t needed at the moment.
“Bro, let her breathe,’’ Malik growls from next to me making me smile.
“Sorry. I’m just so happy you’re okay,’’ he breathes out into my neck. I hug him back before letting him go and he takes a step back to go stand with the rest of the boys.
Mason is next to wish me well, “So glad you’re okay lil sis, but when you’re up to it, can you talk to your pain in the ass best friend? She won’t let me see her,’’ he growls, his eyes sad with also dark circles under them.
“What do you mean?’’ I ask confused. The silence in the room doesn’t escape my notice and it has me feeling on edge. I look to Malik for answers, but it’s Max that walks over to explain.
“When Malik found out about Davis he called us at the party and told us to look for you. We found Denny around the side of the house. She’d been hit over the head with something and got knocked out. They brought her in not long before you, but she won’t let us or her parents in to see her. We’re all worried about what’s wrong cause she should have been let home b
y now,’’ he shrugs.
“It’s only been a day,’’ I scoff, and they all look at me like I’ve grown two heads. “What? It’s been a day right?’’
“Babe, you’ve been in here for three nights, this is your fourth,’’ Malik answers slowly.
Four days? Oh my God, that means it’s my birthday tomorrow. How could I have slept all this time? I’ve woken up what, three or four times if that?
“I didn’t know,’’ I whisper feeling like a fool.
Malik reaches out for me just as a bouncy nurse walks into the room. She pauses for a second noticing all the male testosterone before she flings back her long ponytail, sticks her chest out and makes sure to brush across Maverick and Max. Max looks like he’s enjoying it, giving the nurse a wink and a coy smile, but Maverick looks uncomfortable and takes a step back.
I lean back into Malik watching her as she goes about her duties, my eyes becoming tired as I struggle to stay awake.
*** *** *** *** ***
The minute I got home from the hospital that night I took a long hot shower, and then slept like the dead for the rest of the night.
Now, three days later and my body is only just beginning to feel like my own. I’m still sleeping a lot, but the doctor did tell me that it was normal. I’ve had a few nightmares about that night, but nothing that I can pin point as either a memory or a hallucination.
I’m also not the only one suffering from nightmares. Malik hasn’t slept at his own place since I came back from the hospital, which I’m really thankful for. I need him more than he will ever realise I do. Without him these past three days I think I would have broken down and not have been able to pick myself back up again. He’d been my rock, anchoring me when I needed it.
So to return the favour, I called the number the doctor at the hospital and arranged someone for him to talk to. He’s got a choice of course; I’d never make him go. He also doesn’t need to go alone, we can go together, but I know deep down most of his nightmares are from the guilt he feels. He shouldn’t feel it, but I know Malik, and in the end it will drive him crazy and I kind of like him sane.
If I’m honest I’m doing better than I thought I would three days ago. Although I’m still jumpy, and a little jittery, I’m doing really well. The trip to the police station helped that mostly. They explained that Davis will be in custody until trial, but he’s still in hospital due to the damage Malik caused to his head. Once he’s out of there he will be taken into custody.
The only thing I’m worried about is the trial. According to the PC Marshall, I could be waiting weeks, if not months for it to even be seen and even then there are chances of it being postponed. All I want is for this nightmare to be over. They have more than enough witnesses to put him away, but for some unknown reason to me, Davis’s lawyer is out for blood. My blood to be exact. All I can do is wait around until the trial begins. One good thing is that Davis has been refused bail. Thank God to, because I might start going crazy and carrying a knife with me just to protect myself from his crazy ass.
The only other news is that Mark moved in with us last night after he went all alpha male on my Gram’s. It was really sweet to watch. Malik wanted to throw up, but me? I think it made me respect Mark that little bit more.
“I’m moving in whether you like it or not,’’ Mark tells my Gram’s.
“You will be doing no such thing Mark. Don’t be so ludicrous,’’ she snaps dismissing him to stir the pot simmering on the burner.
“Oh I will Joan. Do you know the Davis family is bad news? Do you think they will let Harlow testify easily? I’m not leaving you here to defend yourself. I’m moving in and that is that.’’
I wince hoping what he’s saying isn’t true. The police told me that the Davis’s weren’t allowed to approach me and if they did it wouldn’t look good on Davis’s record. My head turns when Gram’s slams down the spoon she was using to stir the chilli on the kitchen side. Malik groans beside me and I have to kick him under the table warning him to keep quiet.
“Let me get this right Mark. You want to move in because of a bunch of men who may never do anything. Who might not even know where I live or even bother to defend their rapist of a brother, son or whatever,’’ she cries out and it makes me wince again, her using that word so carelessly. My eyes water, not wanting them to argue over me and I’m about to offer to move away when Mark grabs my Gram’s by the shoulders shaking her. At first I’m horrified. She’s so small and delicate and he’s shaking her like a rag doll.
“Use your mind woman. I’m moving in because I love you and want to keep you safe. I want to be here because of you, whether or not this was going on around you or not,’’ he growls before leaning in and kissing her. That’s when Malik chooses to leave the table, grumbling about not being hungry anymore. I’m still sitting down at the table waiting for one of the two to come up for air or notice I’m here. When they do, they both have the decency to look embarrassed.
“Please don’t fight over me. I don’t want you to fight,’’ I beg. “I will leave if I’m putting anyone in danger, but Gram’s,’’ I say, stopping her from interrupting. “Let Mark move in. Wasn’t it only a few weeks ago you said you were fed up with going from house to house with food and stuff?’’
“Yes but…’’
“No buts. He loves you, you love him. Move in with each other. You should know out of everyone that life can change within a blink of an eye, so why not take something you want while you’ve got it?’’
Mark grins at me before looking down at my Gram’s. His eyes holding so much love and adoration it makes my heart beat faster.
“Okay,’’ she whispers then clings on to his shirt as they make out in the middle of the kitchen, the chilli in the pot bubbling over. When I realise they aren’t going to stop, I roll my eyes, walk over to the stove and turn the heat down before making myself scarce.
“What are you so deep in thought about?’’ Malik asks interrupting me. Mark isn’t the only one that’s moved in it seems. Malik stands in the doorway with two duffle bags full of clothes. I give him a questioning eye and he grins at me.
“Didn’t want my Granddad to fend for himself in a house full of women,’’ he smirks.
“Does Gram’s know?’’ I deadpan, when really I’m feeling giddy for the first time since I woke up in the hospital.
“Yes, she said it would be a great idea,’’ he chuckles.
“I bet she did,’’ I say looking over him warily.
“She did,’’ he laughs jumping on the bed next to me.
“It’s going to be like couples retreat in this house.’’
“Hey, I don’t like to look at them as a couple. They’re too old,’’ he mumbles grumpily.
“I bet they have loud….’’
“Don’t finish that sentence,’’ he growls tickling me. Laughing I roll over to face him, my lips spread into a huge grin.
“Thank you,’’ I tell him seriously.
“What for?’’ He asks with soft eyes.
“For everything.’’
“I love you Harlow.’’
“I love you more,’’ I grin, leaning in to kiss him.
Epilogue
THREE WEEKS LATER!!
Denny and I are sitting in my room reading some magazines when my mobile phone rings. I’ve not seen her much since I left the hospital because her parents have had her under lock and key. She’s also been avoiding my calls and texts, so when she texted me earlier asking to come over, I jumped at the chance and sent Malik out with his mates for the night.
He huffed and puffed about it until I asked if he wanted us to talk about periods, boys and other girly shit in front of him. Then he called his brothers up and asked if they wanted to hang out. So I’m not surprised when I see his name on my screen only two hours after leaving Denny and I.
“Malik?’’ Denny grins and I nod my head with an eye roll.
“Missing me already?’’ I tease answering the phone.
; “Always,’’ he says seriously.
“Everything okay?’’ I ask, listening to shouts in the background.
“Yeah, but I need you to get a taxi to old Gunners house. There’s something you need to see.’’
“Babe I can’t,’’ I tell him, my body already shaking at the thought of that house. I still don’t remember that night and although a part of me wants to know, so I stop going crazy, I’m much happier not knowing. So going there is a big no, no. It may trigger something in my mind and make me remember and I can’t risk that.
“You can Babe, I’ll be here and so are the lads. Mr. Gunner has done this for you. He said it’s to help you heal and to move forward. Please babe. I’m going to meet you at the taxi drop,’’ he pleads.
The desperation in his voice has me pausing. Denny sits up on alert from the tone in my voice. My eyes drift down to the magazine she’s supposedly been reading for the past half an hour and notice it’s still on the same page. I shake my head to get my mind on track and breathe in a deep breath. Maybe getting Denny out will be good for her, get her to talk and it will be good for me. I haven’t left the house much since it happened.
“Okay. I’ll put on a jumper then call a taxi,’’ I tell him giving in.
“Thank you babe,’’ he says sounding happy I said yes.
Ending the call I flop back down on the bed, covering my face with my hands and groaning. I can’t believe I said yes.
“What are we doing?’’ Denny asks.
“I need to go meet Malik are you coming? He wants to show me something. Mr. Gunner said he’s found a way to help me move on,’’ I shrug wondering what an old man who doesn’t even know me can do to make everything better.
Malik (Carter Brother Series Book 1) Page 34
